Russia stops adoptions by foreigners

Russia's commissioner for children's rights, Pavel Astakhov, has announced that Russia has suspended all adoptions of children by foreigners until bilateral agreements are signed to protect the children.

Astakhov stressed that this is a de facto situation and no official decision has been taken so far. He explained that, according to Russia’s Family Code, foreign adoptions are exclusive and could be allowed only if there is a bilateral international agreement.

"Otherwise, the earlier adoptions of over 70,000 children in the United States will be deemed illegal," he said, informs Itar-TASS news agency.